Can piercing devices



Aug- 23, 1960 E. H. wlEMERl 2,949,668

CAN PIERCING DEVICES Filed Aug. 4, 1959 3 f JNVENTOR. Emo H. WIEMERI FIG- ATTO RNEY ilnited girates CAN PIERCDIG DEVICES Eino H. Wiemeri, 3634 N. 51st St., Milwaukees Wis. Filed Aug. 4, 1959, Ser. No. 831,615 2 Claims. (Cl. 30-6.1)

My invention relates to can piercing devices and more particularly to a device which will simultaneously pierce the top of a can or container at a plurality of points for both pouring the contents from the can and for venting to permit air to enter the can or container while the contents are being poured therefrom.

As is known to those familiar with beverage cans or containers, the top portion of the can is usually pierced with a tool making a triangular opening to permit the contents to be poured from the can. In order to provide the admission of air to the can, a second opening must be made, and it is therefore a principal object or purpose of my invention to provide a device that will simultaneously provide both openings in the top of the can or container with a minimum of effort.

Another object is to provide a simple and e'icient device that will provide sufficient leverage for piercing both apertures simultaneously.

Still another object is to provide a device that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and adaptable to any size or shape of container or can and capable of performing can piercing at a pair of points simultaneously.

Other and further objects of my invention will become more apparent from a study of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of an improved can piercing device embodying the features of the present invention, said device being shown in position on the upper end of a conventional can or container;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the can piercing device of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the device in a step of its operation; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3 showing the device at the conclusion of a can piercing operation.

Referring now to the drawing, the improved can piercing device according to the present invention comprises a main body portion which extends across the top of a can 13 shown in phantom outline. The main body portion 10 has its forward end configured into a channel 11 designed to clamp the bead 12 of the can or container 13. The body portion 10 is also provided with an elongated slot 14 near the channel 11 and spaced inward of the bead 12 and an aperture 15 spaced inward of slot 14. A resilient lever 16 is attached to the main body portion 10 at the rear end thereof remote from the channel 11 by means of a rivet 17. The resilient lever 16 comprises a generally at portion 18 in contact with the body portion 10, and an angularly disposed portion 19 maintaining the lever 16 spaced from body portion 10 at its opposite end.

The lever 16 has a venting piercing member 20 attached at 21 thereto, piercing member 20 extending downward through the aperture in the body 10. The forward end of the lever 16 is formed with a main piercing member consisting of an angularly disposed portion rwice 23 providing a shearing blade for contact with the top 2'4 of the can or container 13, and -another blade 25 integrally formed with the body member 10 has a point 26 to form a piercing point adjacent to the point of the shearing blade 23.

The body portion 10 is also provided with a swivel pin 27 attached at 28, and extending upward through the elongated slot 25 in the resilient lever 16.

The swivel pin 27 acts as a fulcrum for an actuating lever 29 which is pivotally attached to the pin 27 at 30. The lever 29 is arcuated at 21 and when the depending end 32 which is shown provided with a bottle cap removing point 33 s brought forward as shown in Fig. 3, the arcuated portion 31 will contact the top surface of the lever 16 at 34 and when brought downward as shown in Fig. 4, the shearing blades 23 and 25 and the piercing point 20 will be forced into and through the top 24 of the container 13 to produce a pouring aperture and vent.

Structure is provided for moving the lever 16 to can piercing positions as seen in Figs. 3 and 4, and to this end an actuating lever 29 is pivotally connected to a swivel pin 27 riveted to the body member 10 as at 28. The swivel pin extends upward from body member 1t) through an elongated slot 35 in lever 16, the actuating lever 29 having a clevis 29a with a pin 30 spanning the same and passing through the top of swivel pin 30.

The lever has a camming surface 31 cooperating with a similar camming surface 35a formed on the lever 16 adjacent the aperture 35, and when the lever 29 is engaged at its end 32 and rocked in a counterclockwise direction, the lever 16 will be rocked in a counter clockwise direction by reason of the coaction of the camming surfaces 31 and 35a. When the rockingoperation of the lever 29 is completed as seen in Fig. 4, the shearing blades 22 and 25 and the piercing point Ztl will have been forced through the top 24 of the can 13.

The lever 29 is provided with a crown cap removing cut out portion at the free end thereof, but the provision of such does not form a part of the invention.

While I have shown a particular specific structure and arrangement of the parts constituting my device, I am fully cognizant of the fact that many changes may be made in their form and contour without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of my claims.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the United States is:

l. In a device for simultaneously piercing a can at a pair of points for pouring and for venting a body member adapted to overlie a can lid and having a first aperture near one end thereof, a second aperture spaced from said first aperture, means formed on one end of said body and adjacent said first aperture for engaging the bead of a can being pierced, a resilient lever secured to the other end of said body member and supporting a pair of can piercing means each being in alignment respectively with said apertures, a swivel pin extending from said body member and through an opening in said resilient lever, an operating lever pivoted to said swivel pin, said resilient lever and said operating lever having coacting camming surfaces, said operating lever being adapted to pivot on said swivel pin to rock said resilient lever and its piercing means into can piercing position, and said operating lever being adapted to rock with respect to said swivel pin to a storing position.

2. In a device for simultaneously piercing a can at a pair of points for pouring and for venting, a body member adapted to overlie a can lid and having a first aperture near one end thereof, a second aperture spaced from said first aperture, a channel formed. on one end of said body and adjacent said rst aperture for engaging the bead of a can being pierced, a resilient lever secured to the other end of said body member and supporting a pair of can piercing means each being in alignment respectively with said apertures, a swivel pin extending from said body member and through an opening in said resilient lever, an operating lever pivoted to said swivel pin, said resilient lever and said operating lever having coacting camming surfaces, and said operating lever being adapted to pivot on said swivei pin to rock said resilient lever and its piercing means into can piercing position.

No references cited. 

